Fatal accident on U.S. Hwy 165 claims passenger’s life

Many accidents occur during the overnight hours, at least in part because visibility could be an issue and drivers could be fatigued and/or impaired. Drivers should be paying more attention to the roadway under these conditions in order to increase the probability that everyone gets to their destinations safely. Unfortunately, not all drivers in Louisiana — or elsewhere for that matter — pay appropriate attention and risk causing a serious or fatal accident.

Failure to pay attention could be at least one factor in an accident that occurred at approximately 3:15 a.m. on a Sunday morning in mid-April. Troopers with the Louisiana State Police were sent to the scene at that time. Upon arrival, they discovered that three vehicles were ultimately involved.

A car occupied by at least two people attempted to make a left turn off of U.S. Highway 165. A second vehicle coming from the opposite direction slammed into the car. The impact sent the car into a third vehicle in the northbound lane. The 47-year-old passenger in the car suffered fatal injuries to which he succumbed at the scene. No information was provided regarding the extent of any injuries suffered by the remaining people involved in the accident.

The investigation into this fatal accident has not yet been completed, and toxicology tests are pending. However, that does not mean that the family of the passenger cannot go ahead and file a wrongful death claim against the party or parties believed to be responsible for the loss of its loved one. If the court rules that negligence caused or contributed to the victim’s death, damages could be awarded to surviving family members.